Media Contacts: Rollin Fatland for Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, 206-442-1123, [email protected]; Roger Nyhus or Marc Stiles for Columbia Hospitality Inc., (206) 323-3733, [email protected] or [email protected]
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Diversifies Holdings with Acquisition of the Historic Salish Lodge and Spa
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. – Oct. 3, 2007 – The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe today announced that it has taken another important step in diversifying its portfolio by purchasing the historic Salish Lodge & Spa. The property includes six parcels of land totaling approximately 50 acres.
Perched next to the picturesque Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge & Spa – a four-diamond property 30 minutes east of Seattle – is consistently ranked among the best small resorts in the world.
Salish Lodge & Spa is on Condè Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List. Salish is one of only 168 hotels and resorts in the United States to receive this highly coveted honor. Of the Washington state hotels on the list, Salish was the highest rated. Salish also was named to Travel + Leisure’s 2007 Top 500 Hotels in the World List.
“The tribe is committed to maintaining Salish Lodge & Spa as a first-class facility deserving of its reputation as one of the world’s best,” said Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chairperson Charlotte Williams. “Salish is truly a one-of-a-kind destination and the tribe intends to keep it that way.” The tribe has selected Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality, Inc. to manage and operate Salish.
The purchase is the latest example of the tribe’s ongoing efforts to broaden its holdings, Williams added. “As was the case with the tribe’s investment in the new Four Seasons Seattle and purchase of the Emerald Downs property, this acquisition is yet another step in the tribe’s ongoing journey to diversify and strengthen its economy.”
“We are proud to partner with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to manage and operate the exquisite Salish Lodge & Spa,” said John Oppenheimer, president and CEO of Columbia Hospitality, one of the West Coast’s premier hospitality management companies. Columbia Hospitality specializes in luxury hotel and resort management.
“The Salish Lodge & Spa is a Northwest icon and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Columbia Hospitality are honored to be the new owner and manager, respectively. This premier property has an international reputation for excellence – and we want to build on that reputation for both business and leisure travelers,” Oppenheimer said.
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About Salish Lodge & Spa Each of Salish’s 89 rooms has a bedside wood-burning fireplace, two-person whirlpool tub and balcony or window seat. The 4,400-square-foot spa complements guests’ experiences by awakening their senses with the aura of a silent, Northwest-inspired Asian retreat. Salish Lodge & Spa also offers three award-winning dining venues as well as the Falls Gift Shop, a country story and 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
The emerald Snoqualmie River tumbles 268 feet over the thundering waterfall. The European settlers first saw the falls in the middle of the 19th century. The first lodge was built in 1919. The building was completely remodeled and reopened as Salish Lodge in 1988. Today, Snoqualmie Falls is the second-most visited tourist destination in Washington State behind Mount Rainier.
About Columbia Hospitality, Inc. Columbia Hospitality, Inc., a leading hospitality management and consulting firm, was founded in 1995 by John Oppenheimer. Columbia Hospitality creates exceptional experiences for guests and employees while achieving phenomenal results for its property owners. Specializing in luxury hotel and resort management, Columbia Hospitality expertly transforms each vision for a unique property into an enduring and profitable business. Columbia Hospitality’s premier properties include boutique hotels and secluded resorts including the following: • Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma County, Calif. • The Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island in Washington state • Friday Harbor House on San Juan Island in Washington state
The company also manages a portfolio of conference centers and event venues in Washington state, including the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. The company additionally supports an active consulting division that has worked on more than 50 hospitality development projects in five western U.S. states and Canada. For more information on Columbia Hospitality, Inc., visit www.columbiahospitality.com.